Burial-vault.



W. 6L A. E. LIVINGSTON.

BURIAL VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 4, 1909.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

2 SHEETS-BHEET 1.

witnesses W. & A. LIVINGSTN.

BURIAL VAULT. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1909.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

2 SEEETS-SHBBT 2.

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tlsllfhll STATES PATENT tlltlllQE.

WALTER LIVINGSTON .AND ALBERT E. LIVINGSTON, OF HASTINGS, NEBRASKA.

BURIAL-VAULT.

To all fwlifo'ru 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that we, WALTER Liviixcs'ron and sinner 1C. Liviixas'rox, citizens of the nited States, residing at Hastings, in the county of Adams and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Burial- Vault, of which the foV lowing is a specificalion.

'lliis invention relates to burial vaults and more particularly to that class of vaults in which a chamber of masonry is employed for housing the burial case or cotlin.

llie object of the invention is to provide a concrete vault which may be built within the grave and quickly and cheaply conlstrncted without the employment of skilled labor.

.i further object of the invention is to provide a vault the interior walls of which are farmed by the coffin case or receptacle, the case being first positioned within the grave and the cement subsequently introduced and thoroughly tamped above and around the case to form the body of the vault.

further object is to provide a waterproof jacket or covering which surrounds the exterior wall-sy of the case or receptacle and serves to render the vault practically air and water tight.

jt still further object of the invention is to provide a slab or plate which forms the top of the grave and also serves to support 'au inscription or other identifying device,

said slab beingl provided with a marginal flange disposed flush with the upper surface of the earth so as to permit and other shrubliery around the grave to be readily trimmed and cut when necessary.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the api ended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view, showing a burial vault embodying features of our invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view ofthe vault complete. FigA 3 is a perspectilve View of the identifying slab or plate. Fig. 4 is .a detail sectional view. Fig. 5 is a perspective, sectional view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cor- Speceatioii of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 4, 1909.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

serial No. 476,013.

l responding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

In constructing the vault forming the subject mattei' of the present invention an excavation 5 is first formed in the earth, the side walls of which ai'e constricted at 6 to produce oppositely disposed shoulders or abutinents T. A quantity of cement, concrete or other plastic material is then shoveled or otherwise introduced into the grave and troweled oil' to form a foundation S after which the cover 9 of an ordinary wood 'l burial box or receptacle is positioned within the grave with the longitudinal reinforcing cleat 10 of the cover embedded in' the cement, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. thereby to anchor the member 9 and prevent accidental displacement of the same.

The outer face of the cover member 9 is preferably covered with a sheet of rubber felt or other material impervious to water indicated at 11, the edges of the sheet 11 being folded over the marginal edge of the member 9 and thence extended inwardly over the upper face of said member to form a marginal packing l2. The packing 12 is secured to the upper sui-face of the cover member 9 by longitudinal and transverse cleats 13 and ll, said cleats being spaced inward ly from the edgesof the cover to leave a. marginal seat for the reception of the body of the case or receptacle 15.

rilhe cotlin case or receptacle l5 is of the usual construction and is introduced within the grave, open end down, after the casket or co'llin has been lowered into the grave. Ythe box or receptacle 15 is also provided with a cover or acket of rubber felt, which latter is folded inwardly at the free edges of the receptacle so as to form a marginal packing strip 1G for engagement with the packing strip 12 of the eovei'. A quantity of cement, concrete or other plastic material is then shoveled or otherwise introduced within the grave and thoroughly tainped around and above the case or receptacle 15 thereby to form the body 17 of the Vault.

The concrete forming the body portion 17 of the vault preferably terminates a short distance below the upper surface of the ground to produce a socket or recess 18 for the reception of a cover plate or slab 19, the latter being constructed of cement or formed of a slab of stone, if desired. The slab or plate 19 is provided with a marginal flange 20, which latter is disposed flush with the grave to be readily cut or trimmed without l danger of the cutting blades of the mower coming in contact with the slab and becoming dull or other-Wise injured. The upper surface of the slab or plate 19 may be smooth and unobstructed or the stone or cement out or cliiseled to produce suitable letters 2l for identifying the grave.

Attention is here called to the fact that the cleats or ribs 13 and 14 not only serve to secure the impervious sheet or liacket of the member 9 in position but also serve to reinforce and brace the side and end ivalls of the box or receptacle l5 so as to prevent the latter from being forced inwardly when the cement is tamped Within the grave. It Will also be noted that the case or receptacle l5 forms 'the inner Walls of the vault and also constitutes the mold or form used in constructing the latter.

The constricted neck ivill preferably be j ust wide enough to permit the ready passage of the box or receptacle l5 so as to guide the. latter when lowering the receptacle onto the bottom member 9, while the shoulders form pockets for the cement and assist in anchoring the latter Within the grave. By first lowering the coli'in Within the grave and subsequently lowering the box or receptacle open end down, to a position over the casket, liability of tipping' or upsetting of the casket by reason of the casket catching on the upper edge of the receptacle is ettectually prevented.

ln Fig. 5 of the drawing there is illustrated a lnoditied form of the invention in which an arch-forming member 22 is placed on the upper surface of the box or receptacle l5', this construction being especially designed for use when the graves are very deep in order to eect a saving in cement. In this form of the device the entire surface of he cover plate or slab 19 is preferably disposed flush with the upper surface of the ground although it Will be understood that the cover plate or slab shown in Figs. 2 and of the drawing may be used as a cover for the vault shown in Fig. 5, if so desired.

A. burial vault made in accordance With the present invention may be quickly and cheaply constructed Without the employment of skilled labor, the cement forming the body of the vault being used to lill the grave in place of the loose earth Which is usually shoveled into the grave after the coliin has been lowered Within the same.

Having thus described the invention What is claimed is:

l. A concrete burial vault built Within an excavation constituting a grave and provided With an interior chamber, a receptacle forming` the interior Walls of the chamber and including a botttnn section, Water proof material covering the bottom section and over-lapping the longitudinal and tra-nsverse edges of said section, cleats forming fastening devices for the Water proof material and constituting` braces for the side and end walls of the receptacle7 water proof material surroundiirg` the body of the receptacle and folded over the edges of said receptacle for contact With the water proof material covering the bottom section, and a slab forming the cover of the grave.

2. A concrete burial vault built Within an excavation constituting a grave and provided with an interior chamber, a receptacle forming 'the interior walls of the chamber and including a bottom section` Water proof material covering the bottom section and over-lapping the longitudinal and transverse edges of said section, cleats forming fastening' devices for the Water proof material and constituting braces for the side and end Walls of the receptacle, and Water proof material surrounding the body of the receptacle and folded over the edges of said receptacle for contact With the Water proof material covering the bottom section.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own` We have hereto afixed our signatures in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

'ALTER LIVINGSTON. ALBERT E. LVNGSTON.

lllitnesses J. H. UERLING, M. A. Konan. 

